50 | HealthLinksSC.com “People take breathing for granted, but, as people become more aware of their breathing, they can benefit from these practices in many ways,” he pointed out. Another technique Graham uses is thought journaling. She asks patients to jot down times when they are having negative thoughts, and, when they bring these notes back to her, they work together to learn what triggers these thoughts and how they can change some of these thought patterns. Wendy Edgin, a massage therapist at Olive Massage in Mount Pleasant, has extensive experience working with cancer patients. “People come to me from many backgrounds – some who are taking a traditional approach to their cancer treatment and some who are going more holistic,” she said. “I listen to their medical history in detail. I respect where that person is in their treatment plan, and I focus on being helpful in their journey, where they are and where they want to be.” Depending on a person’s pain level on a certain day, a therapist may offer massage or simply “hold space” for them, which means being fully present. Some clients see Edgin on a regular basis, and some come only once or twice. “My approach is to be here when you need me,” she said. A seasoned oncology massage therapist, Lucy Allen is the founder of Oncology Massage of the Carolinas. She emphasized that getting to know her clients before they begin therapy is key to working with any client. “Recognizing a patient’s background is especially important when people are dealing with cancer treatment due to any medications and side effects, organ dysfunction, bone fragility and other complications,” Allen explained. “After I take in all of their information, I set up a specific treatment plan for that person, understanding their risk factors and other considerations like their energy level.” Since stress and anxiety can strike at any time, family members and caregivers may find benefit in participating with the patient in these methods. Dr. Balasubramanian teaches classes in breathing at the Hope Lodge in Charleston, a free homeaway-from-home for cancer patients and their caregivers. When he teaches classes there, he finds that family members can learn along with their loved ones. Not only are they able to help the patient use the breathing practices when they get home, but they often find benefit for themselves as well. At Oncology Massage of the Carolinas, Allen agrees that there is often a benefit to including caregivers: “When possible, I encourage family members to watch and follow along when I work with a patient so when I’m not with them, there are some massage techniques they may be able to do on their own.” While the journey is different for each person, Edgin finds great satisfaction in being able to “give a healing touch, taking away some of the pain that medications can’t or don’t touch.” THE COOLING BREATH EXERCISE Smile breathing – 3 minutes: Sit in a comfortable position. Close your eyes. Now as if you are saying “cheese” for a picture, bring your teeth together lightly and pull your lips back, just like you are smiling. Inhale slowly and deeply, allowing the air to pass through your teeth, which should make a hissing sound. After complete deep inhalation, close your mouth and exhale slowly and completely through your nose. This completes one round. Repeat this for three minutes. You can do it for up to 10 minutes with enough breaks in between. Stop the exercise and continue with normal breathing if there is any discomfort. This is also called the cooling breath. Source: Dr. Sundar Balasubramanian.
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